Peanut Clusters

For a quick five-minute treat, try making these delicious peanut clusters. They combine just four ingredients—white candy coating, milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate and dry-roasted peanuts—into a crunchy, chewy cluster of salty sweetness. Plus, they’re ideal for the busy holiday season, when you want to create an easy dessert or make a quantity of edible gifts for family and friends. These treats are also customizable, so you can swap the peanuts for pistachios, almonds or cashews.

Ingredients for Peanut Clusters

• Peanuts: This recipe relies on dry roasted peanuts because they have a crunchy, slightly salty flavor that pairs deliciously with the sweet chocolate coating.
• Chocolate and candy coating: For the coating, we melt together white candy, semisweet chocolate and milk chocolate.

Directions

Step 1: Melt the chocolate

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In a heavy saucepan over low heat, cook and stir the white candy coating and both chocolate chips until everything is melted and smooth. Let the mixture cool for 10 minutes, then stir in the peanuts.

Step 2: Assemble the peanut clusters

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Drop the peanut-chocolate mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed-paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until the clusters are firm, about 45 minutes.

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Peanut Cluster Variations

• Swap the peanuts: Instead of making peanuts covered with chocolate, try mixing pistachios, cashews or almonds into the chocolate mixture.
• Add a chewy component: For delicious chewy bites, try adding dried cherries, apricots or raisins into this peanut cluster recipe. 
• Top them with salt: To cut the sweetness of these peanut clusters, try topping them with flaky sea salt. 

How to Store Peanut Clusters

If you have some leftover peanut clusters, pack them in an airtight container and keep them at room temperature for three to seven days.

Can you make chocolate peanut clusters ahead of time?

If you’re hosting a cookie swap or making an edible gift for a loved one, try making these peanut clusters, since they won’t spoil quickly. Follow the recipe, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for three to seven days. 

Can you freeze peanut clusters?

If you have leftover peanut clusters, store them in the freezer so they don’t go to waste. Put them in an airtight container or a freezer-friendly bag. They will last for two to three months in the freezer.

How long do peanut clusters last?

You can store these peanut clusters in an airtight container on your counter for three to seven days, or freeze them for two to three months.

Peanut Cluster Tips

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Can I use a different chocolate for this chocolate peanut clusters recipe?

While we recommend semisweet and milk chocolate, you can easily swap them for dark or white chocolate in this recipe. 

Is this chocolate-covered peanuts recipe gluten-free?

Peanuts are naturally gluten-free, so this recipe is excellent for people with gluten allergies. You can make this recipe with sunflower or pumpkin seeds if you’re serving guests with nut allergies.

How do I prevent the peanut clusters from sticking to the pan?

When you assemble these peanut clusters, drop the spoonfuls onto a waxed- or parchment-paper-lined cookie sheet so they don’t stick to the pan.